Fairytale-like Jiuzhaigou Valley reopens after M7.0 earthquake

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T‍he majestic and fairytale-like Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, reopened on Thursday after a seven-month shutdown due to a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in August, 2017 that wreaked havoc in the scenic spot.

According to the administration of the park, by midday, 767 visitors from 64 tourist groups, including foreign tourists, had entered the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Currently, only tourists travelling in tour groups will be allowed in, and the number of daily visitors is capped at 2,000.

Several spots that suffered extensive damage because of the earthquake, including the Nuorilang Waterfall, are back in business. The Sparkling Lake, which dried up following the quake, can now be visited, but only aboard a bus.

A view of the Jiuzhaigou Valley after the park reopened. /VCG Photo

Many visitors who lined up in early morning said they were eager to take a look at the valley after the disaster.

Wen Yanping, a first-time visitor, told the Paper that she "couldn’t wait to see what the Jiuzhaigou Valley looks like after the quake," noting that she was filled with excitement to be there on the first day of the park's reopening.

A view of a lake at Jiuzhaigou after the park reopened. /VCG Photo

Tourist guide Wang Sha, however, said she feels a sense of loss despite the restoration work. She has been guiding visitors around the scenic spot since 2007, and was familiar with the beauty of Jiuzhaigou.

"Jiuzhaigou Valley is the most familiar scenic spot to me, and my favorite as well. So I came back instantly after learning that it would be reopened," said Wang. But she still felt sorry for what happened, confessing that the view of the Sparkling Lake made her feel sad.

“It is the sense of loss after seeing the gorgeous scenery destroyed,” she said.

The roads in the valley have already been cleaned, with scattered rocks and mud removed.

Shuanglonghai Waterfall is a new attraction that appeared after the earthquake. /VCG Photo

The earthquake has fused the Sparkling Lake with the Shuanglong Lake and therefore created a new attraction: the Shuanglonghai Waterfall. This has been a highlight amid all the destruction, and workers have been reinforcing the viewing platform nearby.

Tourists are able to see the Jiuzhaigou Valley covered in ice and snow as it is located some 3,101 meters above the sea level.

As only certain parts of the scenic spot are open to visitors at the moment, tourists have been advised to follow their guides' instructions and stay away from cordoned-off areas.

Aerial view of the Sparkling Lake after the earthquake. /VCG Photo

On August 8, 2017, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Jiuzhaigou County, killing 25 people and leaving hundreds injured.

The Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, once called “Heaven on Earth” because of its picturesque natural scenery, suffered massive damages, with many areas beyond renovation.

View of the Sparkling Lake before the earthquake. /VCG Photo

At the time, many visitors took to China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, posting their photos before the tragedy and expressing their grief and sorrow over the death of innocent people and the destruction of beautiful landscapes.

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